Suffering from Parkinson disease is not a small deal and so isn’t seeing your loved one deal with it. This will be more understandable for those who know what Parkinson’s means and how it affects every aspect of someone’s life. A neurological disorder marked by uncontrollable shaking which can lead to difficulty with walking, maintaining balance and coordination, Parkinson’s is 50 times more likely to affect men as compared to women, and predominantly the elderlies. Experts from the best neurology hospital in India suggest that unlike a normal healthy person, those suffering from Parkinson’s disease need extra help and support to carry on with their day-to-day activities and maintain a good quality of life. If you are seeing your loved one struggle with Parkinson’s in front of you and can’t think of anything that you can do to help them, this blog is just for you.
- Educate yourself about the disease – There is more to Parkinson’s disease than just its definition. If you have a close family member or friend suffering from it, the first thing that you need to do is educate yourself. You can’t really help someone unless you are completely aware of what is happening to them and why it is happening. There is a vast pool of information available online however you cannot trust everything blindly. Don’t rely on half-truths and seek proper assistance. Doctors from the leading neurology treatment hospitals in Delhi are always ready to help and guide the caretakers of patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Learn as much as you can and do your research both online and offline.
- Ask them if they need help – For a person suffering from Parkinson’s, even simple activities like cooking, cleaning or driving seem like a hell of a task. They might need help to perform all these activities yet they won’t ask you to do it out of embarrassment. Being dependent upon others for even the smallest of things that you do can be mentally overwhelming and some people even assert on doing their work by themselves. Being a caretaker, you need to do your best to reach out to them and insist on helping them. You can offer to drive them to the hospital, bring grocery, help them prepare their meals, manage their medical appointments, etc.
- Help them feel normal – One of the biggest challenges that a person with Parkinson’s disease experiences, is that he/she will start to lose their sense of self. As mentioned earlier, Parkinson disease affects various aspects of your life and this includes your emotional and mental health as well. People with Parkinson’s often distance themselves from people. As such it is important to bring back that normalcy in their life. Avoid talking about the disease because this will constantly remind them that there is something wrong. Rather talk about things like food, their favourite movie, book, etc.
- Take a step out of the door – People suffering from Parkinson’s often tend to stay indoors to avoid facing people and their stares. They will lock themselves up and live-in isolation. Being a caretaker, it is important for you to understand that dealing with Parkinson’s is really challenging and it is natural for the patient to develop such feelings. It is important to encourage and motivate them to step out and face the world without any embarrassment.
- Listen – Living with Parkinson’s can be really frustrating and what is even more frustrating is not having anyone to vent out to. People with Parkinson’s have good days and bad days. Some may even develop anxiety and depression. To help them overcome these problems, all you need to do is lend an ear and make them feel wanted. Constantly remind them how much they mean to you and stay by their side through all the ups and downs. If you are taking care of a loved one with Parkinson’s, you need to commit to them emotionally. They might also need a little counselling which is offered at all the best hospitals in India.









